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Court Rejects “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”

U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips of California ruled yesterday that the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy violates servicemembers' Fifth Amendment due process rights and their First Amendment speech rights. She will issue an injunction to halt the policy's enforcement.

Michael B. Keegan, President of People For the American Way, issued the following statement:

"It has long been clear that the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy is harmful to brave Americans who want to serve our country and detrimental to the effectiveness of the armed forces. It is also clear that the policy violates the constitutionally protected values of individual freedom and equal opportunity. Judge Phillips has carefully and decisively outlined these practical, moral, and legal wrongs.

"Don't Ask Don't Tell has been rejected by the President, the leaders of our armed forces, the House of Representatives, and by the overwhelming majority of the American people. It has now also been rejected in the courts. It's time for the military and Congress to promptly end this disgraceful and destructive policy."